“After this training, I realized that I was not a leader according to the Bible.”

That’s a hard confession for any leader to make. Yet, this is often the response from men and women who participate in Global Disciples’ Leadership Equipping and Development (LEAD) training. LEAD has a history of being used by the Holy Spirit to change leaders from the inside out.

Why Leadership Training?

As Global Disciples began equipping disciple-makers who could plant churches, new churches needed leaders. In many places, even existing churches were led by many with limited training—and rarely training that focused on Christ-like leadership. To answer the need, LEAD began in 2005 under its own leadership and in parallel to the discipleship-mission training. Since 2012, it has been integrated into the 3-phase model we call the Global Disciples Approach.

Our LEAD training is designed specifically for disciple-makers and church planters who are on location planting or assisting in planting churches among least-reached communities. It is a simple, practical and affordable strategy, built around three biblical themes: character, knowledge, and skills separated into 20 lessons over a year’s time. Local sustainability is an essential value within the LEAD program.

Why LEAD Matters

LEAD provides practical and Christ-centered leadership training that is accessible, reproducible, and relevant in the context of local ministry. The training is offered close to where leaders serve so they can continue caring for their churches while developing as leaders. The LEAD phase also makes leadership development possible where there are limited educational opportunities. It provides practical tools that leaders can use immediately. LEAD builds confidence and spiritual maturity while fostering a vision for multiplying near-culture leaders.

While discipleship-mission training equips people for disciple-making and church planting, and small business training provides sustainability and accessibility for church planters, LEAD empowers change from the inside out. Leaders experience Spirit-powered transformation that reshapes their mission, ministry, families, relationships, churches, and the community at large. As one leader put it, “God changed my heart before He changed my ministry.”

How LEAD Impacts Leaders and Beyond

LEAD lessons are powerful and practical, influencing every area of life. Training participants testify that their perspective of what leadership is all about changes according to the Bible. They begin to lead others from influence, rather than from a position of authority. This in turn leads to impact in three areas:

LEAD training provides a foundation for leaders building on an intimate relationship with Jesus, the power of Holy Spirit, and a focus on serving others. It creates an ever-growing circle of impact from internal personal change in the leader to the family, to the church, and to the community. And it’s building up the Body of Christ around the world.